Sunday, March 20, 2011

a Grace-full weekend

What a fabulous weekend it's been. Friday night, I volunteered at Theatre Victoria to help at will call for a country concert (an amazing artist named Trey Hensley from Nashville who's only 20 and played at the Grand Ole' Opry at 11!). My great friend Ashley came along and after I was done working we enjoyed the show. It was hilarious when he kept referencing songs he wrote when he was 12, and Ashley and I who grew up together, kept saying "Do you remember what we were like at 12?!" Trey was very talented and played guitar better than I've heard in a long time. I especially loved his Johnny Cash medley. :) After the gig, Ashley and I did our usual thing: went to Denny's. We've been meeting at Denny's whenever I found myself in town for the past 8 years or so. It was a delicious close to a really fun night.

Then, I got up early Saturday morning and hit the road to College Station, where my friends Karen and Rob are visiting Karen's sister Kristin and her fiance Will. I haven't seen Karen and Rob in nearly 2 years, but it really doesn't feel like that long. We're pretty good at keeping in touch. They now have an adorable baby girl Gracie, and I had the best time getting to know her.

We went to the George Bush (Sr.) Presidential Library where Will works and had a lot of fun looking around. I think Gracie looks very comfortable behind that desk!

We also went to a little nature area/garden that A&M has and enjoyed walking among the flowers and soaking up some Texas sunshine. (Here are Colleen and Kristin at a children's station in the garden. I love those matching curls.)

So refreshing and sweet. I told Kristin that my Grandparents had these bowls and she said that she got them from her Grandparents.

Having a little cuddle with a sleeping Gracie.

The cutest dog ever. Kristin, Will and Colleen got this little puppy just about a week ago.

It was so wonderful to hang out with some of my best friends this weekend. It's such a gift to be with folks who know me so well and whom I know so well. In fact, our conversation ranged from garden gnomes (there was one in the garden, and it's a bit of a joke in our group of friends) to predestination (Rob's going to teach on it soon to his congregation and was looking for ideas) and lots in between. I just feel at home when I get to spend time with the Jacksons.

And it was a gorgeous drive home. I drove with gratitude for the many wonderful friends in my life, for clear blue skies and for the joy of babies. It was a perfect weekend.

“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and the pain of it no less than in the excitement and the gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy, hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.“